Using bolstered compliance teams and covert cameras, illegal dumping has been a recent focus of attention across the ACT, with four offenders identified and fined $1000 each, and one company given a corporate fine of $5000.
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More than 800 reports of illegal dumping , which cost the government more than $2 million in clean-up costs, were received during 2017-18.
Stiffer anti-dumping and littering penalties were introduced by City Services Minister Chris Steel in June, together with additional measures to address the road safety hazards posed by uncovered loads.
Covert cameras have been used by city rangers to tackle the dumping issue and since July 1 at the 15 camera locations, 51 suspects were identified and spoken to by rangers. Of these, 24 offenders were identified.
Under the new laws, vehicle registration details are used as a identification tool.
"Under these laws if you litter, from or near a vehicle, it will be up to the vehicle owner to explain who pays the fine," Mr Steel said.
The dumped waste includes green waste, builder's rubble, prams, old toys, bicycles, suitcases, whitegoods, televisions, couches and tyres, with isolated areas of the territory commonly used.
The anti-dumping crackdown has been part of an intensified compliance program by Canberra's rangers since July 1. It has found 243 breaches of city laws including such issues as dog control and ownership, the illegal placement of temporary signs and unauthorised use of public land.
Six temporary compliance officers joined the team in June as part of a pilot program, the extra resources deployed primarily to curb a significant increase in dog attacks and harassment incidents.
The new positions have added $500,000 to the running costs of City Services and are in addition to Domestic Animal Services' existing 16 rangers and the four-member investigations team.
During the compliance crackdown, 50 warning notices were placed on vehicles parked on public land on Gundaroo Drive and Hindmarsh Drive, and local construction sites in the area were visited by rangers to remind site managers that this practice was illegal unless authorised.
The use of temporary but illegal advertising boards on footpaths, in public spaces and on road verges also received attention from the rangers. More than 100 businesses across Canberra were visited and warned where they could be in breach of the city's code of practice.
Six warning notices were issued to businesses where the moveable signs were found to be non-compliant with the code.
The haphazard placement of these so-called "sandwich boards" on footpaths and in public spaces has been a constant issue for people with vision impairment. The Canberra Blind Society has complained of the physical hazards they present.
Since July, the expanded team reported 526 "engagements" with dog owners from Forde in the territory's far north, down to to Tuggeranong, checking on registration, microchipping and de-sexing.
From these assessments, 60 dog records were found to be inaccurate or outdated and their owners were referred to Domestic Animal Services to correct the information on file.
One infringement notice was issued to an owner whose dog was neither microchipped nor registered.
Three warning notices were issued for owners failing to pick up and remove their dogs' faeces.
Rangers have been patrolling dog parks across Canberra, as well as sports and recreation ovals and suburban streets in Belconnen, Gungahlin, Woden, the inner north and the inner south, distributing copies of the Canberra Dog Model introduced in May and which details the responsibilities of ACT dog owners.
Owners letting their dogs run off-leash in parks and reserves such as Mt Ainslie, Mt Majura and Tuggeranong Hill have also been put on notice by city rangers, who are working with the parks and conservation service on a plan to target these areas.
Places where people are illegally accessing public land, resulting in damage to government property, have also been identified and covert cameras have been set up to catch repeat offenders.
Compliance teams have been checking on the unauthorised use of ACT public land, with about 190 trouble spots identified and businesses advised of a breach.
More than 40 of these businesses will be followed up later in relation to appropriate land use applications and approvals.
